Content
Among the varieties of fruit crops, special attention is paid to ornamental shrubs. For example, Manchurian apricot. An amazingly beautiful plant that will decorate the site and give a decent harvest of fruits of original taste.
History of selection
The variety was bred in the research center of the Russian Federation, or more precisely, in its Chinese branch. The breeders' goal was to obtain an apricot that resembles Japanese sakura. The obtained result fully satisfied the needs of gardeners. The Manchurian variety was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2005.
Description of culture
Manchurian apricot belongs to a species of deciduous plants of the Plumaceae genus. It reproduces quite easily, but is still listed in the Red Book as a rare species. The description of the Manchurian apricot variety should begin with external characteristics.It is the attractive decorative appearance of the bush that is the reason for the popularity of the variety among gardeners.
This rare variety has an openwork spreading but dense crown, throwing out many shoots. The height of the Manchurian apricot in adulthood reaches 10-15 m. The young tree has a light brown bark; as it matures, it darkens, and in the old apricot it is covered with wide and deep furrows. The trunk diameter reaches 40 cm.
The filigree leaves reach a size of 12 cm. The shape of the leaf blades resembles a wide oval with a pointed tip. The color of the plates changes depending on the season. In summer, the upper part of the leaf is bright green, the lower part is dark green. When autumn comes, the leaves turn yellow-red. They remain on the tree until mid-November; leaf fall begins when frost sets in. Thanks to the original color of the leaves, the variety is a popular ornamental plant for decorating a site.
Flowers are located on branches singly or in groups, held on short stalks. During the flowering period, the branches are covered with large soft pink buds (more than 2 cm).
The buds bloom on the branches before the leaves, so the bush looks like a huge flower:
The fruits are large, the size of one reaches 2.5 cm in diameter. The color is bright, yellow-orange. The skin is slightly drooping. The weight of one apricot reaches 15-20 g. The taste is unique, sweet and sour, very pleasant. The aroma of the fruit is reminiscent of honey.
According to the recommendations of breeders, the best option is to grow Manchurian apricot in Siberia and the Far East.
You can see with your own eyes all the described parameters in the photo of the Manchurian apricot.
Characteristics
An important characteristic for gardeners is the long life span of the Manchurian variety. The shrub grows and bears fruit for up to 100 years. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully choose the place for planting the variety so that the beautiful plant fits into the design of the site.
Undemandingness to soil is also considered a feature of the variety.
Strong root system. The branching and size of the roots allows the rare variety to be used to strengthen slopes and shorelines of reservoirs.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The second positive quality suitable for gardeners is endurance. The Manchurian apricot variety has high resistance to temperature changes. Easily tolerates drought and significant drops in temperature. Shows high winter hardiness and tolerates the climate of the north of the middle zone. It freezes a little in the St. Petersburg region during very severe winters, although the frost resistance of the Manchurian apricot allows the plant to be planted in regions with cold climates.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Apricot has average self-fertility. The Manchurian variety sufficiently ensures its own pollination and helps other varieties increase productivity. To do this, you need to plant 3-4 shrubs on the site. If it was not planned to plant several plants, then grafting of other varieties is done on one Manchurian apricot.
The tree begins to bloom in spring in April-May. The Manchurian apricot variety is characterized by annual abundant flowering for 12 days. The ripening period for the harvest is July.
Productivity, fruiting
The shrub demonstrates good productivity even in rocky areas. But if you plant the Manchurian variety of apricot on fertile, structured soil, the plant will develop much better.
The first fruits appear 5-7 years after planting the seedling. The yield is high, the apricot bears fruit every year, consistently, without reducing its performance. About 40 kg of ripe fruits are harvested from one tree. Competent adherence to agrotechnical measures increases the yield to 45-50 kg from each Manchurian apricot.
Area of application of fruits
The specificity of the taste of the fruits of the Manchurian apricot variety is due to its decorative purpose. They have a peculiar sourness and are slightly bitter, but this does not affect the possibility of universal use. Apricots are consumed fresh and cooked into compotes, jams and preserves.
Experienced cooks find use for apricot kernels. When fried, they successfully replace almonds and are used to prepare apricot oil. Due to its high fat content, the oil is used in cosmetology.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The originators noted the weak resistance of the Manchurian apricot variety to aphids, mites, and cherry moths. To prevent the spread of pests, it is necessary to use appropriate means.
The most common diseases for Manchurian apricots are spotting and verticellosis.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of ornamental shrubs, gardeners note:
- Decent yield indicator. The number of fruits from one tree does not decrease with increasing age of the apricot.
- High level transportability. Apricot also tolerates loading and unloading operations well.
- Keeping quality of fruits. Manchurian apricots can be stored for a long time without losing their external and taste parameters.
- Resilience to climate change.
- Immunity to a significant part of crop diseases and pests.
- Decorativeness of the bush.
The disadvantages are the peculiar taste of the fruit - bitterish-sour.
Important activities for a gardener when breeding a beautiful variety are planting and caring for Manchurian apricots.
Landing Features
Growing shrubs begins with planting. If the Manchurian apricot is planted correctly, the plant quickly takes root and develops well.
Recommended timing
The optimal time for planting decorative apricots is the last ten days of April. At this time, the soil is already warmed up thanks to sunny spring days.
Autumn planting of seedlings is possible, but requires more careful attention. Winter frosts can harm fragile seedlings.
Choosing a suitable location
The planting site should be prepared in a well-lit area with aerated and lime-containing soil. It is worth making sure that there is no stagnation of moisture and strong salinity in the designated area. The most favorable areas for the Manchurian variety are those protected from the north wind. For the same reason, shrubs are not planted in lowlands to avoid the flow of cold air.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to apricots?
The Manchurian apricot variety does not like close proximity:
- nut;
- plums;
- pears;
- apple trees;
- cherries;
- red rowan.
It goes well only with apricots of any variety. Refers to individualistic plants.
Selection and preparation of planting material
The seeds of the variety have the ability to be stored for several years without losing the ability to germinate.
Before planting them:
- Check by immersing in water. Pop-up copies are removed as unsuitable.
- Stratified, in other words, stored at a temperature of 0°C in damp sand and with good ventilation. Stratification period is 3 months.
Landing algorithm
To plant seeds, you need to prepare a furrow 1 cm deep, lay the seeds and sprinkle with soil. Be sure to water.
If you want to plant a Manchurian apricot seedling, prepare a hole and fertilize it with compost. The seedling is immersed to such a depth that the root collar is 2-3 cm above the soil surface.
Subsequent care of the crop
Caring for Manchurian apricots does not cause much trouble.
For the proper development of the plant, it is important to observe:
- Watering. It must be timely, especially in the first year after planting. Frequency – once every 5-6 days. When the plant gets stronger, it is enough to water it only when the soil dries out. Overwatering is dangerous because a large number of shoots will not be able to fully form before the onset of frost and will simply die.
- Sanitary pruning. Mandatory annual procedure. It is important to remove dry, damaged and diseased branches, as well as excess growth, in a timely manner. Do pruning in early spring and autumn. More details about apricot pruning You can find out from the article devoted to this issue.
- Feed the bush 2 times a year. In the spring - mineral compounds, in the fall it is good to add organic matter to the soil.In summer, nutrition is added only when signs of deficiency of certain substances appear.
- Loosening the tree trunk circle and mulching.
- Whitewashing the trunk. Use garden whitewash with the addition of copper sulfate to protect against pests.
- To insulate the trunk in winter, lay a thick layer of mulch.
Reproduction of decorative apricot
Manchurian apricot propagation occurs in 2 ways:
- seeds (stratified);
- cuttings (green).
Seeds.
The seeds are taken from ripe fruits, soaked in water before planting. The sunken ones are selected and stratified for 3 months at a temperature of 0°C. Then they are planted in the ground to a depth of 1 cm and watered regularly. Seedlings are grown in a queen cell and after 2-3 years they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Cuttings.
The material is harvested in July and planted at the end of September. Cuttings are cut from strong branches, leaving 2-3 internodes and a couple of leaves. Place in a vessel with a stimulating solution for 15 hours at an air temperature of 24°C. The rootstock for Manchurian apricot must be reliable. It is selected from varieties adapted to the conditions of the region to ensure longevity of the shrub and good yield.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Diseases to which the variety is susceptible
| Name | Prevention and control |
| spotting | The drug "Hom" according to the instructions. |
| Verticillium | Soap solution for preventive and therapeutic spraying. |
Pests
| Name | Control measures |
| Spider mite | Insecticides "Taboo" and "Regent". |
| Cherry elephant | Potassium permanganate solution |
| Aphid | Preparations containing copper. |
Conclusion
Manchurian apricot has won appreciation for its unpretentiousness, decorativeness and productivity.Growing a rare variety is not difficult for beginner gardeners who want to decorate their area with beautiful and useful plants.
Reviews
Reviews of Manchurian apricot prove the originality and usefulness of the variety.
